The woman’s story in Michigan highlights serious health risks for women

TROY, Mich. The Friday of February is National Wear Red Day – an annual effort by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of heart risks.

Heart disease is the biggest killer of men and women. It is estimated that one in three women live with some form of cardiovascular disease.

READ: #GoRedForWomen: National Wear Red Day Raises Heart Health Awareness

Kristy Sidlar, a resident of Troy, was young and athletic when her first symptom struck.

“A lot of people have the condition I have, their first sign or symptom is a sudden death,” Sidlar said. ‘I was a very fit, very active young woman who learned aerobics when I was 26 years old. I literally disappeared in front of my class. ”

She said people told her it was probably dehydration or low blood sugar.

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When this happens again, she goes to a doctor, gets medication and is told to listen to her body when it comes to exercise.

On her 31st birthday, she sets off on a bike ride as part of training for an upcoming triathlon.

“I felt my heartbeat going in this abnormal rhythm and it was annoying at first and then it got really bad,” Sidlar said. ‘To the point where I was actually lying alone along the road. No one in the area. That was back when I did not have a cell phone with me. ”

She said she lay on the ground for 45 minutes and faded from her consciousness until another cyclist found her and called 911.

Paramedics shocked her heart again in a normal rhythm. It beat the normal heartbeat more than five times.

“I have arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in the right ventricle, which actually means the right side of my heart – instead of looking like a healthy heart muscle – basically looks like a sponge,” Sidlar said. “The more this disease progresses, the bigger my heart becomes, which my heart cannot beat effectively.”

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Sidlar now has an implanted defibrillator. She can not exercise as before, but she has a zest for life, a love of travel and a sense of adventure.

“I probably had heart failure for about five years,” Sidlar said. ‘Unfortunately, the disease I have is progressive. So I will eventually appear on the heart transplant list. ”

READ: Full coverage of the heart month

Sidlar wants women of all ages to understand that heart disease is also their problem.

‘It’s such a passion of mine to be able to help women understand that it’s not a male disease. We have different symptoms, we have to take care of ourselves differently, ”said Sidlar. “Know your family history and know your numbers – these two things are critical.”

These include your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. She also encourages everyone to learn manual CPR

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READ: 2 steps to save a life – Hands-only CPR

If you have any symptoms of heart disease, seek help.

“We really need to be advocates for ourselves and for our bodies to make sure that, if we know something is wrong, we urge it,” Sidlar said.

Although many women with heart problems experience chest pain or discomfort, there are also many who do not.

Some other red flags are shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, back or jaw pain, dizziness or fainting and unusual tiredness.

Do not ignore it if you suffer from any of these symptoms. Seek help.

READ: Metro Detroit doctor encourages people to pay more attention to their heart health

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The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement encourages people to take action throughout February by donning red on February 5, donating to the American Heart Association and sharing the #WearRedDay, #HeartMonth and #GoRedForWomen on social media to use.

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